By Liliana Usvat
Blog 154 -365
Endemic to Western Australia, it occurs in watercourses, on floodplains and alongside rivers throughout south-central Western Australia.
Hop mulga is a spreading, shrubby tree that can grow to three metres but it is usually smaller. Like most Acacia species, it has phyllodes rather than true leaves. These are bluish green, about two centimetres long and one centimetres wide. The flowers are yellow, and held in cylindrical clusters up to two centimetres long and five millimetres in diameter. The pods are broad and flat, and resemble the pods of the hop plant.
In its native growth areas it is found in red clay or loam, alluvium, stony red earth. In low-lying areas, floodplains, along watercourses, & flats. Xeriscape ornamental in lower elevations in the Phoenix and Tucson areas of Arizona.
Blog 154 -365
Endemic to Western Australia, it occurs in watercourses, on floodplains and alongside rivers throughout south-central Western Australia.
Hop mulga is a spreading, shrubby tree that can grow to three metres but it is usually smaller. Like most Acacia species, it has phyllodes rather than true leaves. These are bluish green, about two centimetres long and one centimetres wide. The flowers are yellow, and held in cylindrical clusters up to two centimetres long and five millimetres in diameter. The pods are broad and flat, and resemble the pods of the hop plant.
In spring
individual, small, bright yellow, elongated rod flowers
are produced. Tan-colored, flat, 2" long pods develop
from the flowers. The botanical name probably is drawn
from a description of these pods since crasped
translates to broad in Latin and carp refers to
fruit. Leather Leaf Acacia is moderately cold hardy (15
to 20 F) and grows well in full and partial sun. It will
tolerate a variety of soils but does best in
well-draining soils.
Established plants
are highly adapted to harsh summer conditions and can
survive without supplemental irrigation. Watering once a
month will ensure limited growth but more frequent
irrigation is needed to achieve optimal growth,
appearance and flowering. This plant grows slowly and in
some landscape applications it may be desirable to
install larger container sizes (15 gallon to 36" box) to
get more immediate impact.
Specimens pruned
into tree form can be used as individual specimens or in
small groupings. Leather Leaf are most commonly uses an
as informal hedge planting or as part of a landscape
screen. Because the growth of established specimens can
be easily regulated by irrigation practices, A.
craspedocarpa offers a low maintenance alternative to
Oleanders or other non-desert species used as landscape
screens.
Medicinal Uses
Ailments of a wide variety
are treated with some form of Acacia spp., including
- diarrhea,
- laryngitis,
- venereal diseases,
- cuts and abrasions,
- skin irritation,
- the pain of childbirth,
- sores,
- scabies,
- aching joints, and
- congestion
In its native growth areas it is found in red clay or loam, alluvium, stony red earth. In low-lying areas, floodplains, along watercourses, & flats. Xeriscape ornamental in lower elevations in the Phoenix and Tucson areas of Arizona.
